2-Year Itch - 1971 Chevy C10

Creative Shopping Pays Off Big Dividends

With a passion for the '70s Chevy C10s, Scott King decided to trade his wide body Acura Integra for the 1971 C10 truck you see here. Only problem was, just before he made the decision to go through with the swap, Scott fell victim to the country's failing finances and was laid off from work. Undaunted, he bore on with the truck project by finding parts he wanted at rock bottom prices. Between the local swap meets, internet, plenty of personal labor, and that of friends and family, Mr. King made it all happen over a 2-year period.

Things under the truck did not stray too far from factory. CPP drop spindles and stock control arms are sprung with Firestone airbags. Additional 'bags out back work with modified trailing arms and a C-notch to suspend the Bow Tie. Twin Viair compressors and 5-gallon tanks actuate the system through 3/8-inch lines and valves. Coker wide white wall tires set off the painted to match 15-inch Rally wheels. In keeping within the constricted budget, the 307ci V-8 was rebuilt to stock specs and returned to the manual 3-speed transmission. Plenty of fresh PPG urethane was added to the engine for a bit of flair. The rest of the engine compartment is a mix of stock and custom with a shaved firewall topping the list.

Scott decided to swap out the front clip of the '71 for that of a '67. No emblems exist on the exterior. There are also no keyholes, door handles, fuel filler, or rain gutters cluttering up the outer skin. Instead of a roll pan for the rear of the Stepside truck, Scott chose to run sans bumper. The bed has been covered in polished diamond plate and a fuel cell sits alone in the bed. Fresh trim, lighting, and even tailgate chains were added once the layers of custom-mixed PPG were laid down. A little more time was spent inside the doors with a pair of highly coveted factory bucket seats scored for a song at a swap meet. Matching white door panels and a custom center console make the driving experience more enjoyable. A German helmet-wearing skull sits atop the tall 3-speed shifter contrasted by a white-rimmed billet steering wheel. The dash has had its vents, dash pad, heater controls, and radio opening permanently welded and matching baby blue paint coats and interior metal. An Alpine head unit feeding 2- and 4-channel JL Audio amplifiers provide aural sounds. Stashed in custom enclosures behind the bucket seats are shallow-mount Pioneer 10-inch subwoofers.

Thanks to some clever shopping and good friends like Todd and Soukie Sydara, brother Danny, fiancé Kristy, and his mother Deanna, Scott had the helping hands and emotional backing to carry through with his desire for a custom '70s C10 despite his financial hardships and 2-year labor of love. Along the way he even managed to make a few dollars in the parts swap game. All in all, one fine truck with a great story to tell.